Sowell fights back tears as sister describes his service in Marines, brutal upbringing

The death penalty phase in the Anthony Sowell trial continued Thursday morning.

First on the stand was Sowell's half-sister Tressa Garrison. She described their brutal upbringing.

At times during Garrison's testimony, Sowell fought back tears. She called him a nice guy and said, "I don't know what happened to him."

She also said he came back from the Marines a changed man. He was meaner and more withdrawn. Garrison said Sowell became an angry man when he mixed alcohol with pot. Anger Garrison witnessed firsthand.

"He hit this girl that was talking to me 'cause she was talkin' to me real aggressively and Anthony said one time, he was like, leave her alone and she kept on talkin' kept on talkin', next minute all he did was hit her once, she was bleeding all over the place." Garrison testified.

Jurors convicted Sowell of mass murder last month. The 51-year-old was found guilty of murdering eleven women and burying their bodies in and around his Imperial Avenue home in Cleveland.

The same jury that convicted Sowell must now decide whether he spends the rest of his life behind bars or is sent to death row.

A group of ministers hope to make a decision tonight on what to do with the property where Anthony Sowell killed 11 women. The Mount Pleasant Ministerial Alliance will meet with relatives of the victimsMore >>

A group of ministers hope to make a decision Thursday night on what to do with the property where Anthony Sowell killed 11 women.More >>

Arguments have just been filed with the state Supreme Court to save the life of serial killer Anthony Sowell.More >>

Arguments have just been filed with the state Supreme Court to save the life of serial killer Anthony Sowell. Sowell killed 11 women, kept the bodies in and around his home, and he now sits on death row.More >>

Officers with the Lufkin ISD Police Department arrested high school student Tevin Dewayne Sanders in October 2016 for allegedly coming up behind a teacher who was working late and putting a cord in front of her neck.

Officers with the Lufkin ISD Police Department arrested high school student Tevin Dewayne Sanders in October 2016 for allegedly coming up behind a teacher who was working late and putting a cord in front of her neck.

According to agriculture experts at Angelina County's Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, the recent heavy rain, combined with the East Texas region's clay layer, could make soil water logged and prevent plant growth.

According to agriculture experts at Angelina County's Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, the recent heavy rain, combined with the East Texas region's clay layer, could make soil water logged and prevent plant growth.